New York Yankees' Robinson Cano hits a two-run home run off Oakland Athletics starting pitcher Jarrod Parker during the first inning of Thursday's game in Oakland, Calif.

Written by

Chad Jennings
| Staff Writer

By the 16th inning, the birds were circling at O.co Coliseum. They looked like seagulls, but they might as well have been vultures, searching for the remains of the Yankees' offense.

After more than five and a half hours of baseball, it was closer Mariano Rivera who allowed a walk-off, bases-loaded single in the 18th. But a 3-2 loss to the Athletics rested squarely on the largest shoulders in the Yankees' lineup.

Mark Teixeira, Travis Hafner, Kevin Youkilis and Vernon Wells - the Yankees' 4 through 7 hitters - combined to go 0 for 28 with 12 strikeouts, and they were at their very worst when given ...